Chapter 517 -The Ocean Sage
After hearing the NPCs' description at the harbor, John had formed his own ideas. He stood up and looked around at the NPCs who were still hiding in the shadows.
"Do you really not intend to leave this barrier? Do you wish to live forever under the shadow of this curse? I can offer assistance, but I need you to provide me with relevant clues."
John's words stirred excitement among everyone in the harbor, but the two strongest individuals, the warrior and the rogue NPCs, were not so quick to believe him. They were skeptical about John's ability to resolve an issue that even they couldn't handle. How could an outsider like John possibly succeed where they had failed?
The rogue NPC directly questioned John, "What method do you plan to use to solve our troubles? We have tried many ways before. We have a series of magical scrolls left by the Sage, but none of them have been effective. Moreover, after using these scrolls, we became enemies with the Naga Tribe. We don't know why this happened, but we have already tried our best."
It was clear that the situation was complex, involving powerful magic, ancient conflicts, and a mysterious curse. John's offer to help, while met with some skepticism, also brought a glimmer of hope to the harbor's inhabitants. John's offer to help, while met with some skepticism, also brought a glimmer of hope to the harbor's inhabitants. They were desperate for a solution, and John's willingness to delve deeper into their plight could be the turning point they needed.
Upon hearing their concerns, John replied with a confident smile, "You have indeed tried your best, but you haven't fully grasped what your biggest problem is. You all believe that your sage has been defeated and eliminated. However, I think the existence of this barrier suggests that your sage wasn't completely destroyed. No spell, no matter how powerful, can last this long without its caster being alive. The continuing existence of the barrier implies that your sage might still be alive, possibly in a sealed state.
My plan is to find this sealed sage you speak of. By doing so, I can help free you from your current predicament. All I need from you is some clues."
This plan seemed to have a potential chance of success in the eyes of the NPCs in the harbor. The rogue NPC, Twilight, and the warrior NPC exchanged glances. Then Twilight spoke, "We are willing to help you. We believe that you can indeed help us escape our current situation. Since we've decided to trust you, let's not hesitate any longer. Let's start taking action. But before we begin, let me introduce myself. My name is Twilight. I am an assassin of moderate strength, as you've seen. I specialize in shadow magic and can hide in the shadows to assassinate any enemy at any time."
Twilight, having decided to trust John, willingly shared his name. John nodded in acknowledgment. He had already used a Detection spell earlier to learn most of Twilight's attributes and skills.
John was pleased that Twilight was willing to openly share information, as it indicated a genuine trust in him.
After introducing himself, Twilight turned his gaze to the warrior NPC beside him: "His name is Hammer. As you can see, he is a warrior and the most powerful among us here."
Hammer's name indeed sounded like that of a warrior. John nodded at him and then asked Twilight, "What kind of clues can you provide me? What do you have at your disposal?"
Twilight took out a scroll from his backpack. The moment John saw the scroll, he was sure it was related to oceanic magic.
"The most important clue I can provide you with is this scroll left by the Sage. You should be able to find some additional information on it. Moreover, in his last moments, the Sage left us with a message – he told us to pray sincerely to the Sea God."
Twilight shared all the clues he knew with John. Hammer, standing behind Twilight, watched John closely, seemingly on guard for any of John's subsequent actions.
John, now equipped with the scroll and the Sage's final message, had a tangible lead to follow. The connection to the Sea God and the oceanic magic scroll suggested a deeper, more mystical element to the Sage's presence and the barrier's persistence. John's journey to unravel the mysteries of the harbor and its inhabitants was about to take a significant step forward.
Understanding Twilight's trust but also recognizing Hammer's skepticism, John carefully examined the scroll handed to him. He was now able to confirm the name of the Legend Magus they referred to – the Ocean Sage, a name recorded in the Great Library of Storm City. However, there was no mention in Storm City's books of a battle between the Ocean Sage, Mystery Protector, and Arsena, the Duke of Storm City.
"The sage you're talking about is Ocean Sage, right? I'm aware of him and know that he is indeed a very powerful magus. Now that I know his name, I can use it to locate him. I need some space without interruptions for what I'm about to do," John explained.
Mentioning Ocean Sage convinced Twilight and Hammer of John's potential to help them significantly. They quickly set up a guard around John, shooing away other NPCs to ensure he wouldn't be disturbed.
With the assurance of safety, John placed the spell scroll given by Twilight on the ground in front of him and took out his Book of the Astral Realm. He was preparing to delve deeper into the magic and the history surrounding the Ocean Sage, potentially unlocking the secrets needed to free the harbor inhabitants from their plight.
With the powerful spatial authority of the Book of the Astral Realm, John was capable of traveling to any location and using continuous teleportation skills. More importantly, the book could help John find clues that were elusive to others. Utilizing the Book of the Astral Realm, John successfully established a spiritual connection with the Ocean Sage's scroll.
Closing his eyes, John could sense the ocean scroll seemingly guiding his focus in a particular direction. He intuitively understood that the power of the scroll was pointing towards the location of the Ocean Sage.
As John worked diligently to pinpoint the exact location of the Ocean Sage, Twilight and Hammer vigilantly monitored their surroundings, wary of any unforeseen complications arising at this crucial juncture.
Time passed swiftly, and after about half an hour, John slowly opened his eyes, having determined the location of the Ocean Sage. However, the smile on his face had vanished; the location of the Ocean Sage was, in John's view, incredibly awkward.
The challenging situation suggested that reaching the Ocean Sage wouldn't be straightforward. John's next steps would require careful planning and possibly confronting unexpected challenges. The path to unlocking the secrets of the harbor and potentially freeing its inhabitants from their curse was proving to be a complex and intricate endeavor.
John's revelation brought a sobering reality to Twilight and Hammer. "I've located your sage. He is deep in the ocean, sealed by a powerful enchantment. To reach him, we must first go to the Naga Tribe. However, I'm not sure if the Naga Queen will assist us. Given her prior inaction, it seems she might be unwilling to help."
Twilight and Hammer felt the weight of this challenge, but they were determined not to give up, especially now that they had more information than before.
Hammer stepped forward, speaking assertively, "Now that we have these clues, we can't waste any more time. Regardless of what the Naga Queen thinks, we must find the sage quickly. You said you'd help us; are you going back on your word now? Are you afraid of opposing the Naga Queen?"
It was clear that Hammer had misunderstood John's intent, thinking he was considering giving up. He was visibly upset by this thought.
John quickly shook his head, clarifying his position, "I have no intention of abandoning my plan. My earlier words were meant to prepare you for the challenges ahead, not to suggest giving up."
"We will not give up, no matter the difficulties! We will do everything possible to solve any problem we encounter! Let's begin our mission now!" Twilight declared with firm resolve.
John, reassured by their determination, knew the path ahead would be challenging, especially dealing with the Naga Tribe and the deep-sea voyage. However, the commitment and resolve of Twilight and Hammer were crucial assets. With the information at hand and a clear objective, they were ready to embark on this daunting yet vital mission to find and possibly free the Ocean Sage.
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